Clamp



CLAMP Filed Jan. 22, 1936 H l 17 I AlbeflJiVaymarz .1w 3; 3% WW Patented Feb. 2s, 1931 CLAMP Albert J. Wayman, Youngstown, Ohio, assignor of one-half to Ernest H. McClure, East Palestine, Ohio Application January 22, 1936, Serial No. 60,271

6 Claims.

often desirable to clamp the pipe at an angle to 10 the beam which is not provided for by such clamping means.

Moreover, it is frequently desirable to connect a ground wire to the pipe which is clamped to the beam, and prior constructions have required a separate ground connection or ground clamp in addition to the beam clamp.

Such prior ground connection constructions have usually included means for clamping the connection to the pipe and separate means for clamping the ground wire to the connection, with the result that the application of the connection to the pipe is an awkward operation consuming excessive time and trouble.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel clamp construction which will clamp a pipe to a beam in a plane sub stantially parallel to a longitudinal element thereof, and at any angle thereto.

Another objectis to provide a novel clamp construction having single means for clamping a pipe to a beam and connecting a ground wire to the pipe.

A further object is to provide an improved pipe and beam clamp adapted to be used also as a ground clamp for connecting a ground wire to a pipe.

Another object is to provide an improved clamp construction which requires manipulation of only one means for clamping a pipe to a beam, or a ground wire to a pipe, or both.

A still further object is to provide an improved beam and ground clamp which will accommodate various sizes of pipes and various sizes of ground 45 wires.

And finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved clamp construction embodying all of the foregoing objectives, which construction is simple and inexpen- 50 sive to manufacture and which may easily be .mounted or applied in any desired position with a minimum amount of time and trouble.

These and other objects are accomplished by the parts, movements and combinations compris- 55 mg the present invention, and hereinafter described in detail and defined in the appended claims.

In general terms, the invention includes a O clamp having a clamping screw at one end and a pipe and ground wire engaging member swivelled 5 in the other end.

Referring to, the drawing forming part hereof,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved clamp supporting a pipe from a beam and connecting a ground wire to the pipe, the pipe running in a 10 direction parallel to the beam;

Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof, showing the pipe, beam and ground wire in section;.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the improved clamp supporting a pipe from a beam at an angle 15 thereto;

Fig. 4 is an elevation thereof showing the pipe and beam in section;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the improved clamp applied to a pipe in a manner to connect a ground 20 wire thereto; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view as on line 66, Fig. 5.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing. 5

The improved clamp includes a body portion it, which may be a one-piece casting generally C-shaped, having a head portion H at one end and a foot portion H2 at the other end.

The head portion ii is preferably enlarged as 3 shown at 13, and provided with a threaded hole it, into which a bolt or set screw it is screwed, and the bolt provides means for engaging a support, or for moving the clamp into clamping relation with a pipe.

The other end 52 of the body portion iii is provided with an enlarged portion it having a bore ii therethrough, and the bore H is coaxial with the aperture id in the enlarged portion A3 of the head A jaw member or pipe-engaging member i3 is movably mounted in the foot portion, and includes the front or anterior jaw it having on its upper side serrations 20 for gripping a pipe and the like in a usual manner. The jaw memher I8 is provided with a reduced rear or posterior portion 21!, which may be swivelled in the bore ii for movably mounting the jaw member in the foot it. The reduced portion 20 forms a shoulder 22 on the jaw is for normally abutting the inner surface 25 of the enlarged portion it, when the clamp is used merely to clamp a pipe to a beam, as shown in Fig. 4.

The reduced portion M of the jaw member is preferably slotted or bifurcated, as shown at 23, 55

as shown, to prevent accidental removal 01' the jaw member from the bore I'I while allowing limited vertical movement or the jaw member there-' in. The slot 23 is adapted to receive a ground wire for making an electrical connection with the pipe which is clamped by the Jaw member, if desired.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the improved clamp may be used to support a pipe P from a beam B, and at the same time make an electricalconnection between a ground wire G and the pipe P. By inserting the pipe P between, the flange oi the beam B and the jaw member I8, and inserting the ground wire G into the slot 23 of the jaw member I8, and then screwing downwardly on the bolt I5, the pipe P is clamped to the beam B and the jaw member I8 is forced toward the inner surface 25 of the enlarged portion I6 so as to clamp the ground wire between the shoulder 22 and the enlarged portion I6 of the body portion.

Thus, the manipulation of the means for clamping the pipe to the beam also clamps the ground wire between the jaw I9 and the portion iii of the body. Preferably, the base or closed end of the slot 23 is provided with a slightly curved boss downwardly against the beam B.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the improved clamp may be used simply as a ground clamp where it is desired to make an electrical connection between a ground wire G" and a pipe P", in which case the bolt I5 is screwed downwardly to engage the top of the pipe P" and the jaw I9 clamps the ground wire G" against the enlarged portion I6 of the foot I2.

The improved clamp provides a simple and inexpensive construction, which may be used equally well as a beam clamp, or a ground clamp, or both simultaneously; and where it is used as both a beam and a ground clamp, the screwing of the bolt I5 serves to clamp the pipe to the beam and the ground wire to the pipe.

By swivelling the reduced portion 2I of the jaw member I8 in the bore I! of the body portion, the jaw may be turned on its axis so as to clamp the pipe in the plane of a longitudinal element of the beam and at any angle thereto. In Figs. 1, and 2, the pipe is parallel with the beam, and in Figs. 3 and 4, it is shown at a decided angle thereto. Obviously, the pipe may be disposed transversely to the direction of the beam, or at any angle thereto, and still be securely clamped by the present improved clamp.

By making the bolt I5 and the bore I1 cosupport, a pipe jaw having a reduced shank provided with a wire-receiving slot, said shank being swiveled in the other end of said body, and said screw being adapted to clamp a pipe against said jaw and a. ground wire in said slot and between said jaw and. body.

2. A clamp including a body portion, means for clamping said body portion to a pipe, and a pipeengaging member having a reduced shank provided with a slot for receiving a wire, said shank being movable in said body portion toward and away from said pipe, and said clamping means being adapted to clamp a ground wire in said slot and between the pipe-engaging member and the body portion.

3. A clamp including a body portion, movable means engaging said body portion for holding it in clamping relation with a pipe, and a pipeseating member having a posterior slotted wirereceiving shank portion, said shank portion being movably mounted in said body portion for movement toward and away from said pipe.

4. A clamp including a'b ody portion, movable means for holding said body portion in clamped relation with a pipe, and a pipe-seating member having a front jaw portion and'a rear slotted wire-receiving portion, the slotted portion being movably mounted in said body portion for permitting movement of said member toward and away from said pipe, and said movable clamping means being adapted to clamp a ground wire in the slotted portion against the said body portion.

one-end of said bodyportion for engaging a sup-i port, a jaw member mounted in the other'end of said body portion for movement toward and away from said support engaging means, said in the body for movement toward and away from,

the pipe and having a ground wire-receiving slot,and means for clamping said pipe jaw to said pipe and a wire in said slot between said shoulder and body.

ALBERT J. WAYMAN.

, 5'45 5. A clamp including a body portion, means at/ 

